At a Glance

• Demirtas and Mizrakli backed the upcoming Framework Law as a historic opportunity for unity.
• They emphasized peace and brotherhood for all citizens.
• The leaders urged the process to move forward with maturity to resolve decades of conflict.
• They thanked Erdogan, Bahceli, Ocalan, the DEM Party and other individuals.

Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and Selcuk Mizrakli, former Amed (Diyarbakir) co-mayor, expressed their support for the upcoming “Framework Law,” calling it a historic opportunity to strengthen unity between Turks and Kurds through democratic reform.

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Key Statement and Focus Area

• Demirtas and Mizrakli wrote to the Turkish Parliament: “You are about to take another critical step in an extremely important and historic peace effort that has the potential to fundamentally transform the future of our country and our region."
• They stressed, "We believe this step will bring positive outcomes for all of us, while also opening a new chapter in politics—one characterized by greater civility, cooperation, and political maturity.”

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Both Kurdish leaders sent a message to the Turkish Parliament addressing the speaker, party leaders, and MPs, acknowledging that all debates, criticisms, and proposals are valuable contributions to the peace process.

“However, we want it to be known that we have participated in this process, and have supported it with all our strength, wholeheartedly, sincerely, and seriously, for one purpose only: to strengthen and expand the peace, prosperity, and brotherhood of all 86 million people,” they added.

Demirtas and Mizrakli emphasized that critics should not waste time searching for “hidden agendas or sinister plans” behind the current peace efforts.

They maintained that any close scrutiny would only reveal a historic brotherhood and a shared determination between Kurds and Turks to build a united Turkey together.

“Every step that has been taken—and every step yet to come—will lay the foundation for new horizons, new reforms, and a new future,” the message said, adding that the process must be supported by comprehensive reforms in democracy, justice, and equality to ensure a peaceful life for citizens through responsible political engagement.

To move past four decades of shared suffering, the leaders urged that the peace process progress with maturity and dignity, ensuring neither a sense of triumph nor defeat.

They expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli, and Abdullah Ocalan for their strong political will and significant efforts in initiating the peace process.

They also thanked the DEM Party, including co-chairs Tuncer Bakirhan and Tulay Hatimogullari, the Imrali Delegation, the late Sirri Sureyya Onder, and the parliament speaker for serving as the driving force of the initiative, along with a number of other individuals.

“May God bless everyone who has contributed to peace and carried even a single drop of water to help extinguish this fire. May the law that is to be adopted bring positive outcomes for all. Once again, we respectfully extend our greetings to the General Assembly,” the message concluded.

FYI

The "Framework Law," officially titled the "Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration," is a 12-article legislative proposal to establish the legal framework for ending the decades-long armed conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Following a long debate on Saturday, Parliament's Justice Committee officially approved the full text of the bill by a majority vote.

The bill has officially cleared the committee stage and is scheduled to be debated and voted on by the Turkish parliament.

The draft carries the rare joint signatures of 360 lawmakers representing a broad spectrum of major political forces, including the ruling AK Party, the nationalist MHP, and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party.

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